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A new LGBT news service is being launched by the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association (NLGJA) and Washington, D.C.-based Witeck-Combs Communications, both organizations reported.

The service, called OutNewsWire, is expected to fill the need for LGBT-focused news distribution to journalists, according to David Barre, NLGJA's executive director.

"We recognized a need to ensure that news and information about the LGBT community got to the journalists most interested in these topics," he said.

"This is a way to both help our members stay on top of the latest LGBT news and to provide affordable access to those organizations who want to reach the LGBT community."

OutNewsWire will deliver news releases to more than 150 journalists who have chosen to subscribe to the service. As with other news services, individuals and organizations pay a fee to have their releases distributed, though nonprofit organizations receive a discount. It costs nothing for journalists to subscribe to the service, and more are signing up all the time, say the organizers.

A portion of all proceeds will support NGLJA's mission and programs.